TABLE OF CONTENTS Stress-grade lumber consists of three classifications:
Beams and stringers. Lumber of rectangular cross section, 5 in (127 mm) or more thick and 8 in (203 mm) or more wide, graded with respect to its strength in bending when loaded on the narrow face.
Joists and planks. Lumber of rectangular cross section, 2 in (50.8 mm) to, but not including, 5 in (127 mm) thick and 4 in (102 mm) or more wide, graded with respect to its strength in bending when loaded either on the narrow face as a joist or on the wide face as a plank.
Posts and timbers. Lumber of square, or approximately square, cross section 5 5 in (127 by 127 mm), or larger, graded primarily for use as posts or columns carrying longitudinal load, but adapted for miscellaneous uses in which the strength in bending is not especially important.
Allowable unit stresses apply only for loading for which lumber is graded.
Lumber is usually designated by a nominal size. The size of unfinished lumber is the same as the nominal size, but the dimensions of dressed or finished lumber are from 3/8 to 1/2 in (9.5 to 12.7 mm) smaller. Properties of a few selected standard lumber sizes, along with the formulas for these properties, are shown in Table 6.1.
